Case for bowling equipment or similar device



I. KAUFMAN March 12, 1963 CASE FOR BOWLING EQUIPMENT OR SIMILAR DEVICEFiied May 18, 1961 United States PatentO 3,080,951 CASE FOR BOWLINGEQUIPMENT R SIMILAR DEVICE Irving Kaufman, New York, NY. (382 JeffersonSt., Brooklyn 37, N .Y.) Filed May 18, 1961, Ser. No. 111,006 1 Claim.(Cl. 190-48) This invention relates generally to the field of easingequipment, and more particularly to an improved case adapted for use incontaining bowling equipment, including. a bowling ball and bowlingshoes. Devices of this type are generally known in the art, and theinvention lies in specific constructional details permitting an improvedresult from the standpoint of strength, convenience and compactness. 7

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide animproved bowlers bag of relatively rigid construction having a lowercompartment adapted to retain a relatively heavy bowling ball, and anupper shelf adapted to support a pair of bowling shoes in such manner asto permit removal of the ball while still supporting the shoes, or viceversa.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedbowlers bag of the class described of molded synthetic resinousconstruction, in which the side walls thereof are reinforced by theprovision of a pivotally mounted shelf element therebetween, in whichthe reinforcing action is obtained irrespective of the relative positionof the shelf.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedbowlers bag in which at least a portion of the shelving may be moved toan inoperative position when not required, thereby increasing thestorage space and utility of the bag.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of a foldingor movable shelf which will automatically be cammed from an interferingposition to a non-interfering position upon the insertion of a bowlingball, and which will normally return under the action of gravity to aposition wherein it at least partially looks a ball in an engagedposition within the opened bag until such time as removal is desired.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedbowlers bag possessed of the above advantages, in which the cost offabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale,distribution and use.

A feature of the invention lies in the relatively light total weight ofthe bag as contrasted with existing soft type bowlers bags.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends andadvantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the followingdisclosure, and be pointed in the appended claim.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification,similar reference characters have been employed to designatecorresponding part-s throughout the several views.

FIGURE l is a view in perspective of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view as seen from the plane22 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view as seen from theplane 3-3 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view corresponding to that seen inFIGURE 2, but showing the insertion of a bowling ball into position forcarrying.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged horizontal longitudinal sectional view as seenfrom the plane 55 in FIGURE 3.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated byreference character 10, comprises broadly:

, 3,080,951 Patented Mar. 12, 1963 first and second casing elements 11and 12, and first and second shelf elements 13 and 14.

The first casing element 11 is preferably formed as a single injectionmolding from suitable synthetic resinous material of light weightconsistent with strength, although, if desired, the same may be formedof a suitable metallic material, such' as aluminum, magnesium alloys andthe like. The element 11 includes a generally planar side panel 16, endpanels 17 and 18, a top panel 19, and a bottom panel 20. Mounted uponthe top panel 19 is a suitable carrying handle or strap 21, suitablehinge means 22, or the equivalent, serving to interconnect the bottompanel 20 with the second casing element 12. Latching means 23 on the toppanel 19 may be of any suitable con ventional type.

The second casing element 12 is of generally similar construction, andsymmetrically shaped and arranged with respect to the first casingelement 11. It includes a generally planar side panel 28, end panels 29and 30, a top panel 31 and a bottom panel 32. A projecting lip 33 may beprovided to effect a seal between the elements 11 and 12, as is wellknown in the art, if desired.

The first shelf element 13 is preferably formed of planar strip steel,bent or otherwise formed to suitable configuration. It includesreinforcing bars 34 and 35 secured by suitable rivets 36 or other meansto the inner surface 37 of the casing element 11. Extending from thelower portions of the bars 35 and 34 are bend portions 38 and 39 whichare horizontally aligned. The horizontal supporting surface of theelement 13 is formed by a first longitudinal member 40, a bend portion41, a first transverse member 42, a second bend portion 43, a secondlongitudinal member 44, a third bend portion 45, a second transversemember 46, a fourth bend portion 47, and a third longitudinal member 48which interconnects with the bend portion 39. The members 4048 all liewithin a single horizontal plane.

The second shelf element 14 is of generally similar construction, and isarranged for pivotal movement with respect to the first shelf element13. In one position thereof it lies in co-planar relationship withrespect to the first shelf element 13. The second shelf element 14includes a pair of curved mounting portions 50 and 51 secured by rivets52 and 53, or other suitable means, to the reinforcing bars 34 and 35,respectively. Connected to the mounting portion 51 is a firstlongitudinal portion 54, leading to a bend portion 55, a firsttransverse portion 56, a second bend portion 57, a vertically disposedmember 58, a third bend portion 59, a second longitudinal portion 60, afourth bend portion 62, a vertically disposed member 63, a fifth bendportion 64, a second transverse portion 65, a sixth bend portion 66, anda third longi tudinal member 67.

It will be observed that when the second shelf element 14 is in theposition shown in FIGURE 3, the two shelf elements 14 and 13 are ingenerally co-planar relation, the second shelf element 14 extending intothe interior of the second casing element 12 when the casing elementsare in relatively closed condition.

Upon the insertion of a bowling ball, generally indicated by referencecharacter 69, the outer surface of the same will strike the secondlongitudinal member 60 to deflect the same upwardly to permit passage ofthe ball into seated position. When the shelf element 14 has passed thehighest point on the ball, the same will drop downwardly to its originalposition to retain the ball in position as best seen in FIGURE 4.Following this, the shoes 70 of the bowler may be placed upon the shelfelements 13 and 14 to be supported thereby, and the device 10 closed.Where it is desired to carry articles other than the ball and shoes, thesecond shelf element 14 may be moved to the alternate position shown inFIGURE 4, wherein articles larger than that of the bowling ball may alsobe fitted within the device 10 in the absence of the bowling ball.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limitedto the precise details of structure shown and set forth in thisspecification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled inthe art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

In a bowling bag for a bowling ball, the improvement comprising: acasing including first and second symmetrical casing elements, meansinterconnecting said casing elements along one edge of each casingelement, each of said casing elements having a side wall and end wallsdisposed generally perpendicular to said side wall, a first shelfelement fixedly interconnected between the end walls of said firstcasing element, and a second shelf element in the area of said firstshelf element mounted upon said first shelf element for pivotal movementabout an axis perpendicular to said end walls of said first casingelement; said second shelf element selectively projecting between theend walls of said second casing element, said first and second shelfelements each having a recess therein through which a portion of thespherical surface of said ball may pass; whereby the manual positioningof said ball between said casing elements may serve to move said secondshelf element about its pivotal axis to a position wherein the same mayclear a portion of the surface of said ball, and subsequently to move inan opposite direction to retain said ball when theicleared positionthereof is seated within said recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS858,831 Sherman July 2, 1907 2,091,607 Nave Aug. 31, 1937 2,945,582Abraham et a1. July 19, 1960 2,976,101 Rooney Mar. 21, 1961 2,982,419Shiels May 2, 1961 2,991,859 Kaplan July 11, 1961

